The Future Of Aerospace Industry

Published: March 6, 2017

By Margo McCall

The Spring Engineering Distinguished Lecture at CSULB will address a topic of concern to many in the region—the future of the aerospace industry in Southern California. The lecture will take place on Thursday, March 16 from 5-7 p.m. at the Pointe, Walter Pyramid.

The rate of decline in Southern California’s aerospace manufacturing has been significantly higher than the rest of the nation. With full airplane assembly practically gone from the state, there is little incentive for the vast aerospace supplier base to remain in the region. Unless proactive measures are implemented rapidly, there is a strong possibility that the high rate of migration may continue. The region must create an appropriate public-private partnership model as the basis for an ecosystem that will support the revival of the industry in Southern California.

Scheduled speakers include:

Robert Garcia ’02, ’10, Mayor of Long Beach

Al Muratsuchi, state Assemblyman

Chris Hernandez, ’81, Sector Vice President, Northrop Grumman Next

Kent Peterson ’86, Vice President, P2S (moderator)

Garcia has taken a leadership role in economic development, education and investing in technology since becoming mayor. He has taught public policy and communications at CSULB, Long Beach City College and University of Southern California, and is a former member of the California Coastal Commission.

Muratsuchi is a prosecutor and Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice and a former Torrance School Board member who represented California’s 66th Assembly District from 2012-14. As chairman of the Assembly Select Committee on Aerospace, Muratsuchi authored job-creator laws like Assembly Bill 777, which provides tax incentives to attract and retain aerospace jobs in California.

Before becoming sector vice president of Northrop Grumman Next, Hernandez served as the vice president of Advanced Systems, where he led the creation of advanced system solutions for future programs, such as next-generation fighters, low-observable and counter-low-observable systems, long-range strike and ISR systems, advanced weapons and future cargo/transport systems.

Each Fall and Spring, the College of Engineering brings together experts to address a high-profile engineering topic. Established in 2009 by the Dean’s Advisory Council, the Engineering Distinguished Lecture series draws a wide audience of students, faculty, community members, alumni and supporters.

The Spring lecture is possible through support of silver sponsors the Port of Long Beach and P2S Engineering, and bronze sponsors AES, Northrop Grumman and the CSULB Center for Energy and Environmental Research and Services.